Angela Rayner dealt further blow in homes row as new document emerges

Labour’s deputy leader ‘said she was landlady’ of house she claims was her main residence, it was claimed

Source - Daily Telegraph 21/04/24

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Angela Rayner’s bid to deal with the row over her two properties appears to have been dealt a blow following the disclosure of a document signed by her former neighbour.

Sylvia Hampson has previously called the Labour Deputy Leader a “f---ing liar” for claiming that she was living in a different address to her then husband, which would have helped her to avoid paying a capital gains tax bill.

She further confirmed she was a legal witness to the sale of Ms Rayner’s home and that she was asked by her to sign the document, which she claimed was her “principal property”.

Mrs Hampson claimed that Ms Rayner asked her to sign the document, although she lived a mile away from her, next door to her then husband.

Mrs Hampson was interviewed by Greater Manchester Police on Friday in relation to the matter.

Police are looking into “multiple allegations” against Ms Rayner, including potential breaches of electoral law, a failure to pay capital gains tax and the false claim of a single-occupancy council-tax discount, according to the Mail on Sunday.

It comes as it is alleged that Ms Rayner called herself “the landlady” at a property she says was her principal residence.

According to The Times, residents of Vicarage Road told Greater Manchester police Ms Rayner was involved in a row in 2015 with the family of a local boy who kicked a football through a window of the property.

It is claimed that she demanded £240 for the damage and called herself the “landlady” of the property.

Chris Hinett, a resident of the street, told The Times that he had approached a vehicle in which Ms Rayner was sitting when she visited in relation to the window incident.  Asking her why she had been parked up for a lengthy period of time, he claims she said: “I am the landlady at number 80. My brother lives there and he isn’t strong enough to deal with yous lot.”

Mr Hinnett said he had given a statement to the police, who are thought to be investigating allegations that Ms Rayner supplied incorrect information to the electoral register in the 2010s when she lived between two houses in Stockport.

A Labour spokesman said: “Angela has been clear that she will co-operate with any investigation.” 

Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, has also backed her, saying: “We remain completely confident that Angela has complied with the rules at all times and it’s now appropriate to let the police do their work.”

Ms Rayner has faced scrutiny about whether she should have paid capital gains tax on the 2015 sale of her council house on Vicarage Road owing to confusion about whether it was her principal residence or whether she was living with her then-husband at a separate address on Lowndes Lane.

Greg Smith, the Conservative MP, told The Telegraph: “For a story Labour are desperate to play down as a nothing story, it seems to keep growing and growing and growing. What’s next?”

Some legal experts have said Ms Rayner cannot be prosecuted over allegations she gave false information about her main residence because the time limit for such action has passed.